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2008-01-14 16:12:00

NAR Campaign Relates Real Facts About Real Estate

Washington, DC, Jan. 14, 2008 - Beginning today, the National Assn. of REALTORS® is reaching out to consumers with the facts about homeownership and the value of real estate as a long-term investment. Would-be homeowners who are uncertain about their home buying plans can learn more about the options available to them and the long-term benefits of owning a home through a new advertising campaign that will provide current, relevant housing data to help them make informed decisions about buying a home.

Over the past 30 years, the median price of existing homes has increased an average of more than 6% every year, and home values nearly double every 10 years, according to historical data from NAR’s existing-home sales series. A Federal Reserve study has shown that the average homeowner's net worth is 46 times the net worth of the average renter. Despite this and other research, some potential home buyers are being kept on the sidelines as they react to national media reports about the housing market.

“Nobody buys a home in the national real estate market,” said NAR President Dick Gaylord, (shown at right) a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, CA. “All real estate markets are local, and buyers and sellers who are thinking about making a move should consult with a REALTOR® in their local markets to learn about conditions specific to the areas. It’s also advisable to look beyond the immediate horizon – real estate has proven itself to be a good long-term investment and a safe, secure way to build long-term wealth.”

According to NAR’s most recent forecast, existing-home sales are likely to total 5.66 million in 2007, the fifth highest on record, rising to 5.70 million in 2008 and 5.91 million in 2009. Existing-home prices are likely to be down 1.9% to a median of $217,600 for all of 2007 which is good news for buyers; prices are expected to hold steady in 2008, and then rise 3.1% in 2009 to $224,400.

The campaign includes a new web site, www.HousingMarketFacts.com, which provides more information about the benefits and value of owning a home, identifies current public policy issues of importance to consumers in the real estate transaction and allows visitors to link directly to www.REALTOR.com to find a REALTOR®.

The ads are part of NAR’s Public Awareness Campaign. For more than a decade, the Public Awareness Campaign has helped millions of consumers realize the value of using a Realtor® to help them buy or sell real estate, and is now educating consumers about the value of housing as a long-term investment. In 2008, campaign ads will be broadcast nationwide from January through November and will air more than 10,000 times on national TV and radio outlets. Local and state Realtor® associations are encouraged to coordinate with the campaign in their markets with local radio, TV and print buys.